Interview with Lil C: Grand Hustle’s Man Behind The Beats

March 28, 2009 |
Interview By: ESTAXX
 
It’s a well known fact that Hip-hop has grown into a global phenomenon that generates billions of dollars worldwide. The man behind the beat sometimes doesn’t get the spot light because the artist tends to grab most of the attention and recognition for the brilliant music that these young minds have been able to create for decades. Beat makers and producers alike are pivotal in their roles for creating the music; it goes far beyond the words that we recite. It’s the rhythm and bounce that we have a tendency to remember no matter how old the song may be. There are many big name producers that take the spot light like Dr.Dre, Timberland, Mannie Fresh, Jermaine Dupri, Scott Storch, Just Blaze, Polow Da Don, etc. But this 21 year old has been in the industry since he was at the age of 17 and has shown the world that he’s not slowing down or letting anyone get in the way of his grind. Lil C is the man behind the beats.

 
KeepItTrill.com:  Introduce yourself for the people that don’t already know who you are.
 
Lil C: Grand Hustle’s super producer Lil C from Jackson, MS. I’m known as Mr. Shoulder Lean, the Porn Star and the man behind all your favorite songs. I’m the secret weapon of Grand Hustle Records.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com: Growing up did you feel like making beats was something that you wanted to do? What are some producers that influence you?
 
Lil C: At first it was just something for me to get money, to pay the bills. I started out real young, selling to people at school, that was my hustle. Then I got better at it, I crafted my skills, and suddenly I was waking up every day making a beat.
As far as people who influence me, I’ve been influenced by all the greats, people like Dr. Dre. Also, I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the current greats such as DJ Toomp, who is like an uncle to me and took me under his wing.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com: At the age 17 you produced “My Hood” for Young Jeezy, which was off his debut album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101. Did you feel like after having produced for one of Def Jam artists that you had made it in the industry?
 
Lil C: Definitely not. I feel like that really just put my foot in the door and got my feet wet. Getting on that album just gave me the motivation to keep going. After that it was like what’s next? I’m ready.
 
 
[smartads]
KeepItTrill.Com: How did you link up with Grand Hustle?
 
Lil C: Through a friend I met Jason Geter, the CEO. He brought me to Atlanta on the day of the “I’m A King” video shoot and I brought my keyboard with me. JG was impressed with me and my sound and we locked it down soon after. The rest is history.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com: You produced “Shoulder Lean” off of Young Dro’s Best Thang Smokin’ album. That sold over 2 million ringtones which lead you to your first co-publishing deal with Warner Chappell/Grand Hustle at the age of 18. With the success of “Shoulder Lean,” did you feel that it made the industry know that you were here?
 
Lil C: Yeah definitely. For me, it was a greeting to the Billboard, an invitation to billboard. That was my first number one record and people started to take notice.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com: Since the success of “Shoulder Lean” you haven’t stop making hits. With songs like “Rubberband Bank” off Young Dro’s debut album Best Thang Smokin’, “Porn Star” off  T.I.’s latest Paper Trail album, “Raw” off T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. album, and 8Ball & MJG’s newest single “Boo,” which features T.I. So what’s next for Lil C in the future?
 
Lil C: The future is pop/rock for me. I got Kia Shine’s new single “Checkin My Fresh” featuring Young Dro and Maino, we just shot the video for that. I am still holding down the sound everyone knows me for, but I’m also expanding and branching out more.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com: Who are some of the artists that you are currently in the studio working with?
 
Lil C: I’m working with Fantasia, Mario, Juice, The Game, I’m trying to get on Kevin Rudolf’s next project too and of course I’m working with everyone on Grand Hustle.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com: T.I. will be reporting for prison within the next 60 days. What has he been telling everyone at Grand Hustle? Will this slow things down at Grand Hustle while he serving his time?
 
Lil C: Things will definitely not slow down. While TIP does his time we are gonna hold it down. We are gonna speed things up while he is away, speed limit is 250 MPH while he’s away. Tip tells us to keep making these hot records, the times gonna do itself, there’s no difference with him going in or coming out, we are just building a whole bigger brand. The Roc-a-fella of the south.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com:  How could artists get in contact with you, if they wanted to purchase some beats?
 
Lil C: They can email me at guttagrand@gmail.com.
 
 
KeepItTrill.com:   Thank you for providing KeepItTrill.com with this exclusive interview. Anything you want to tell the fans of KeepItTrill.com?
 
Lil C: New music coming up soon so keep your antennas out, alotta new stuff coming from Lil C this year.. it’s a bigger sound, bigger movement.